Mock Draft: Dennis Dodd
Dennis Dodd predicts the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, which will be held in New York City on April 29 and 30.
(Updated on April 23, 2006)
| 2006 NFL Mock Draft |
| 1. Houston Texans | ||
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Reggie Bush, RB, USC: College replacement: Remains to be seen. USC loses its top two producers at the position (LenDale White was the other tailback). The best three candidates have issues. In spring practice, Hershel Dennis injured the same knee that kept him out all last season. Chauncey Washington hasn't been eligible in two years. Desmond Reed is recovering from knee surgery. One of several blue-chip freshmen arriving in the fall will have a good chance to start. | |
| 2. New Orleans Saints | ||
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A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State: College replacement: Sophomore Marcus Freeman has the best shot at taking over Hawk's weakside linebacker spot. Freeman missed all of last season with a knee injury. | |
| 3. Tennessee Titans | ||
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Vince Young, QB, Texas: College replacement:True freshman Jevan Snead and redshirt freshman Colt McCoy go into the fall basically even. Both might play, Mack Brown said. | |
| 4. N.Y. Jets | ||
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D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia: College replacement: Uncertain. Sophomore Zak Stair was originally listed as the backup but was charged with a misdemeanor earlier this month after a fraternity brawl on March 3. | |
| 5. Green Bay Packers | ||
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Mario Williams, DE, North Carolina State: College replacement: Two redshirt freshmen are listed as the defensive end starters -- Willie Young and John Amanchukwu. | |
| 6. San Francisco 49ers | ||
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Michael Huff, DB, Texas: Strong safety Matt Melton is the heir apparent having played in 13 games backing up Huff. He will play next to All-Big 12 safety Michael Griffin. | |
| 7. Oakland Raiders | ||
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Matt Leinart, QB, USC: College replacement:Either John David Booty or Mark Sanchez. This might sound like heresy, but there won't that much of a drop off at USC. Booty, recovering from back surgery, has waited patiently behind Leinart for a couple of seasons. Sanchez is seen as the next Leinart/Carson Palmer. | |
| 8. Buffalo Bills | ||
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Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon: College replacement: Mike Bellotti loves junior David Faaeteete, who got valuable playing time in the Holiday Bowl. | |
| 9. Detroit Lions | ||
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Ernie Sims, LB, Florida State: College replacement: Junior Lawrence Timmons is being touted as the next great linebacker at FSU. Timmons is a fearsome hitter who also played special teams last year. | |
| 10. Arizona Cardinals | ||
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Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt: College replacement: Sophomore Chris Nickson did not play in the spring game because of a sprained hamstring. His backup, Mackenzi Adams, threw three interceptions. Nickson threw only three passes backing up Cutler last year but rushed 15 times for 49 yards. | |
| 11. St. Louis Rams | ||
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Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech: College replacement: Sophomore Victor "Macho" Harris. The former four-star high school running back runs a 4.45. | |
| 12. Cleveland Browns | ||
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DeMeco Ryans, LB, Alabama: College replacement: Sophomore Matt Collins and redshirt freshman Prince Hall are battling it out in the middle. No matter what happens, Alabama's top 10 defense is taking a serious hit. | |
| 13. Baltimore Ravens | ||
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Winston Justice, OT, USC: College replacement: Still a battle at right tackle between senior Kyle Williams, junior Matt Spanos and redshirt freshman Charles Brown. Thomas Herring was limited in the spring with a knee injury. | |
| 14. Philadelphia Eagles | ||
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Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, Boston College: b>College replacement: Junior Nick Larkin has the advantage, but defensive line is a concern for coach Tom O'Brien, who will sort things out in the fall. | |
| 15. Denver Broncos (from Atlanta) | ||
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Chad Jackson, WR, Florida: College replacement: Sophomores Nyan Boateng and Louis Murphy are battling with redshirt freshman David Nelson. Both Boateng and Murphy caught four passes in Saturday's spring game. Nelson caught a 29-yarder from fast-rising freshman quarterback Tim Tebow. | |
| 16. Miami Dolphins | ||
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Tye Hill, CB, Clemson: College replacement: The most likely candidate is junior C.J. Gaddis, who signed originally as a quarterback. | |
| 17. Minnesota Vikings | ||
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Chad Greenway, LB, Iowa: College replacement: Mike Humpal and Mike Klinkenborg (combined 36 tackles) are expected to step in for Greenway and Abdul Hodge. They saw extensive time as backups. | |
| 18. Dallas Cowboys | ||
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Marcus McNeill, OT, Auburn: College replacement: King Dunlap and Leon Hart are next after McNeill and Troy Reddick left. Offensive line coach Hugh Nall, though, says they will need fall practice -- maybe more -- to solidify their spots. | |
| 19. San Diego Chargers | ||
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Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State: College replacement: Junior Anthony Gonzalez moves up after 28 passes as a backup last year. With Holmes gone, the Buckeyes will still have one of the best receiving groups in the country. Heisman candidate Ted Ginn Jr. has the other side. | |
| 20. Kansas City Chiefs | ||
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Kamerion Wimbley, DE, Florida State: College replacement: With the loss of Wimbley and Brodrick Bunkley, the favorites are Darrell Burston (15 tackles, 5 tackles for loss) and Alex Boston (18 total tackles, 4.5 TFL). | |
| 21. New England Patriots | ||
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DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis: College replacement: Junior Joseph Doss who had 623 career yards in two seasons. Doss, 5-9, 193, has the same dimensions as Williams but not the same talent. | |
| 22. San Francisco 49ers (From Denver via Washington) | ||
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Antonio Cromartie, CB, Florida State: College replacement: Cromartie didn't play last year after breaking his leg in the preseason. The only returning starter in the secondary is left corner Tony Carter. | |
| 23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | ||
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Max Jean-Gilles, OG, Georgia: College replacement: Who do you like at "tight" guard? Juniors Fernando Velasco and Zeb McKinzey are battling into the fall. | |
| 24. Cincinnati Bengals | ||
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Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland: College replacement: Don't expect spectacular. Davis' replacement, Dan Gronkowski, is more of a blocking tight end. | |
| 25. N.Y. Giants | ||
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Bobby Carpenter, LB, Ohio State: College replacement: Jim Laurinaitis is expected to take over one of the outside spots. The son of pro wrestler "Road Warrior" is believed to be the first scholarship Buckeye from the state of Minnesota since the 1940s. | |
| 26. Chicago Bears | ||
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Johnathan Joseph CB, South Carolina: College replacement: The converted receiver has a chance to win the spot opposite veteran Fred Bennett. | |
| 27. Carolina Panthers | ||
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Gabe Watson, DT, Michigan: College replacement: The battle is between 305-pound sophomore Terrance Taylor and junior Will Johnson. Johnson was Michigan's No. 1 defensive prospect out of high school. | |
| 28. Jacksonville Jaguars | ||
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Leonard Pope, TE, Georgia: College replacement: The Bulldogs lose three inches and a lot of talent at tight end. Martez Milner, only 6-4, caught 14 passes last year. | |
| 29. N.Y. Jets (from Denver) | ||
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Nick Mangold, C, Ohio State : College replacement: Doug Datish started at guard in 2004, left tackle in 2005. He moves to center after sitting out the spring aftero shoulder surgery. | |
| 30. Indianapolis Colts | ||
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Joseph Addai, RB, LSU: College replacements: Alley Broussard and Justin Vincent, both of whom sat out the spring with injuries. Vincent ran for 1,000 yards as a freshman in 2003. | |
| 31. Seattle Seahawks | ||
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Jason Allen, DB, Tennessee: College replacement: Junior Inquoris Johnson started the final six games of '05 after Allen went down with an injury. Johnson is a fierce hitter who needs to work on his coverage skills. | |
| 32. Pittsburgh Steelers | ||
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LenDale White, RB, USC: College replacement: Remains to be seen. USC loses its top two producers at the position (LenDale White was the other tailback). The best three candidates have issues. In spring practice, Hershel Dennis injured the same knee that kept him out all last season. Chauncey Washington hasn't been eligible in two years. Desmond Reed is recovering from knee surgery. One of several blue-chip freshmen arriving in the fall will have a good chance to start. | |
